• Electronic Arts is in advanced talks for a $50 billion buyout at approximately $210 per share.
  • A consortium including Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia's PIF, and Affinity Partners is leading the acquisition.
  • EA's shares surged 15% on the news, with a formal announcement expected within the week.

Electronic Arts Inc. is closing in on a landmark leveraged buyout that would value the gaming giant at roughly $50 billion, or about $210 per share, according to people familiar with the negotiations. The deal, which could be announced as soon as the coming week, would represent the largest buyout in the history of the video game industry.

The buyer consortium is led by private equity firm Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, these people said. The offer represents a significant premium to EA's current market value of approximately $43 billion, reflecting the consortium's confidence in the company's valuable intellectual property and future growth trajectory.

News of the advanced talks sent EA's stock soaring 15% in afternoon trading, adding to an already impressive 32% gain for the year. The company's recent successful launch of College Football 26 and strong anticipation for the upcoming Battlefield 6 have bolstered investor confidence in its product pipeline.

Efforts to reach representatives from Electronic Arts, Silver Lake, and the Public Investment Fund for comment were not immediately successful. A spokesperson for Affinity Partners declined to comment when contacted.

The proposed transaction comes amid a wave of consolidation in the gaming sector, following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and Take-Two's purchase of Zynga. Taking EA private would dramatically reshape its corporate governance and capital structure, freeing the company from quarterly earnings pressure while providing access to substantial strategic capital from its new owners.

Saudi Arabia's involvement through the PIF is part of the kingdom's broader strategy to diversify beyond oil and expand its footprint in global entertainment. The sovereign wealth fund has been aggressively building its gaming portfolio through investments in companies like Savvy Games Group.

The sheer scale and international nature of this buyout is likely to draw scrutiny from U.S. and global regulators, particularly given Saudi Arabia's increasing influence in Western technology and media assets. Such deals typically undergo review under both antitrust and national security guidelines, though no specific regulatory hurdles have been confirmed at this stage.

For EA developers and employees, the potential buyout creates both opportunity and uncertainty. While private ownership could provide more flexibility for long-term projects, it often brings significant restructuring and strategic shifts. Players of EA's flagship franchises—including FIFA/FC, Madden NFL, The Sims, and Apex Legends—will be watching closely for any potential changes to game development roadmaps or content policies.

*Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the percentage gain in EA's stock for the year. It is 32%, not 35%.